Ameriflight

[Masterplan]

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You want a first hand gripe? I actually had Paul in Burbank tell me on the company freq. when I was telling him the weather at my destination was going way down, maybe below minimums, to "Just get in!"
Plus everybody there in the flight department always seemed so pissed off, even the training captains. I do admit though it was very weird how every base except Burbank was pretty good to work at and I had worked at 5 other ones. At the headquarters a lot of the pilots felt on the chopping block if they didn't stay in line. Way way too many write ups from dispatch for literally 6 minutes late for your show time. Makes you feel unwanted especially when you find out the line guys who just got hired were making almost as much as the chieftan captains. Oh well!!

 

[fraitman]

Masterplan,
I assume the scenario was that the wx was above minimums, but the trend was lowering and you were giving dispatch a heads-up about the possibility of it being below minimums at your ETA. If that was the case, than you should have been patted on the back for thinking ahead and good communication. Having a dispatcher say "Just get in" is inappropriate. It in no way helps the situation, and if anything, if you can't legally do the approach than it implies you did something wrong. Worse than that, I would be concerned that a new line pilot who doesn't have much confidence may feel pressured to break the rules. I have never had a dispatcher say something like that to me, if they did, I would be a little unhappy. The pilots are expected to follow the rules, which are very clear, you can't begin an approach if it is below minimums, and if you can do the approach, you can't go below DH/MDA unless you have the things required by 91.175. Cut and dry, no room for debate.

If you feel that the comment was just because the dispatcher was having a bad day, and he is not normally like that, then I would just mention to him. If he sincerely apoligizes, I would let it go. If you see an on-going problem with his attitude, then I would help yourself and fellow pilots and complain (in writing) to the VP Flight, Chief Pilot and HR. That may seem excessive, but you want to make sure it is followed up on and not buried. In any company, there are people that cause problems, if everyone just gets upset but doesn't do anything, then nothing gets better. If the higher ups don't care, that's another story. Then you got to ask yourself whether it is the right company to be working for. But at least give them a chance to correct it.

In terms of being late, well, in this industry being on time is expected. If they took harsh disciplinary action for being six minutes late, well yeh, that's overkill. A "write-up" is just a warning to discourage you from making it a habit. I've been written up a couple of times, I didn't take offense at it, I messed up. I never felt I was on the "chopping block." I used to be a supervisor in another industy, and I know from experience that when I looked the other way when employees were a little late, it just got worse and worse and harder to correct later. I aim to show up to work 15 minutes early, so if something happens I still am on time. If an unusual situation develops and I am running late, I call on my cell and explain what is going on and when I will arrive. In those cases, they didn't write me up. If they haven't heard from you and you aren't there at showtime, they start worrying something happened to you and you may not show up at all. That's their job. Just a suggestion, I'm sorry if it sounds like preaching. I hope things are going well for you overall and this "just get in" B.S. is more of an exception than the rule.